Owen - BS2775 O8 1668

Concerning the en/lefslah, This is their Hope which like that of the Hypocrite is as the giving up of the Gholb For ( s. ) It is true, Repentance and Amendment of Life , are required in them who fcek after the forgivenefs of their fins, and many Promifes are made unto them; But is this all that God required, that fin might be forgiven ? They are füthcient indeed in their own way and place , but are they .fo abJóluteÿ a11ò ? Did not God moreover appoint and require, that they fhould make ufe of Sacrifices to make at- tonement-for fins, without which they fhould not be done away ? ' SeeLevit. 16. And ( a.) What. is the meaning of that Plea, that by Sacrifices indeed Remi(Gonof fins might more eafily. be obtained, but obtained it may bewithout them ? Doth this more eafily refpeét God or man ? if they fay it refpeEts God ; I define to know, if he can pardon fin without Sacrifice, why he cannot do it aseafiy as with them? or what is he -eaféd of bySacrifices ? If it refpc h themfelves, as indeed it Both, :then it may beenquired what it is that they (hall be eafedof in the obtaining of the Pardon of fins, by the ufe ofSacrifices ; when that is again reflored unto them ? this can be of nothingbut of that which they are now forced to make fife of, for that end and purpofe, andwhat is that ? Why Repentance andAmendment ofLife. Ifthen they had their Sacrifices theft might b'e fparrd, or at leaf{ much in them abated which at prefent is neceffary. This then it feems was the End why God inftituted 'Sacrificer, namely that thefe Jews might obtain pardon of fin, without either Repentance or Amendment. And this is that which they love as their fouls -namely that they may live in their fins, and be acquitted of all Danger by Sacrifices and outward' fervices. ( 3. ) Attonement forfin is exprefly necefláry, or all the Inftitutions ofSa- crifices for that End of old were vain and ludicrous. At the fame time when Sacri- fices were-in ufe, Repentance was -alfo required, and therefore not tobe a caufe or means for the fame End, in the faine kind with them. And therefore notwithftanding their Pretence 6f Repentance, noJew upon his ownPrinciples, can now in the total Cella- tion of all Sacrifices, obtain either Pardon offinhere, or Salvation hereafter: But to proceed. Their corrupt carnal AffeElians have moreover greatly contributed, andyet do fo f. s7e unto their Obftinacy in their Unbelief. Hence have they coyned their felf-pleafing imaginations about the Meffiáh, and the work that he hath to do, That He fhould be a King, and . reign glorioufly, that his Dominion fhould be over all the. world, and endure throughout all Generations, was promifed concerning him from the 'Begin- ning. They think much therefore what Advantage this Kingdom may afford unto them, comparing it in their minds with thofeother Empires which they fee in the world. Wealth, Rafe, Liberty,Dominion, or a (hare in Power andRule are the things that pleafe their carnal minds, and evidently fill them with Envy and Wrath again({ them by whom they are polleffed. Thefe things they look after -and_hope for, 'as the only things that are deferable; the only Pledges indeed of the favour of God. NoPerfons on the Eatthihave their thoughts morefixed on them then they. Astheir Oppref/fons increafe, fodo their Defires after Liberty and Rule ; and they have learned nothing by their Poverty, but to grow in a greedy fiercenefs after Riches. Andwhen they would at anytime fee out the care ofGod towards their Nation, they declare that filcha one in [itch a place mar worth fo many thoufand Crowns , or drove fach a Trade,, or was in much favour as that he rode in aCoachor Charrier ; as may be feen in theAddrefs ofManaffeh' unto the Englifh. This Covetoufnefs, and Ambition with Revengeful! thoughts againft their Oppreffors poffeffing their minds, makes them de- fire, hope-and believe that the Kingdom of their Mefah (hall be of this world, and that therein their Enjoyments (hall be as large, as what ever now their Fancy can reach unto. And fò perfedly are they under the Power of theft lufe and' earth, ly defires in this matter, that take awaytheir Hopes offatisfying of them in thegood things ofthis world, that they will on very eafe terms bid adieu unto their Mefliah, or grant that he is already come. But whileft they are obftinately fixed in the exper`ta- tion of them, to tell them of.a Spiritual andHeavenly Kingdom, wherein the poorelt and molt perfecuted Perfon on the Earthmay have as good an Intereft, and enjoyas much Benefit by it, asthe greateftMonarch in the world, and You do but cal{ away your words into the wind. Secondly, Since the Propagation of the Gofpel andits fttecefs in the world, Envy, 4. a8, another corrupt Luft, againit the Gentile Believers,, path exceedingly perverted their T minds, 137

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